Monday, 12/8/25: Talking about being in the midst of December

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-tingle-tingling too…

Yay, it’s December! I hope this festive month has been treating you well, friends.

This is a month I’ve been looking forward to for a long time… the first holiday season with Ben, and a rare window where Matt and I are both on leave from work. It feels like a gift! Pun intended.

And – a bit serendipitously – I also feel like I’m starting to come back up for air this month. Things feel less overwhelming, more enjoyable and we’re getting some longer stretches of sleep at night (which might be why overwhelm is down and enjoyment is up!). It’s amazing to feel the fog lift a bit, and I’m so thankful it’s happening during a month I’ve anticipated so much.

But here’s the funny thing: when you know you’re in a special season – one you’ve anticipated and deeply want to savor – it can add its own pressure. How do I “make the most” of the month I’ve been looking forward to?

The circumstances of this December are unique, but that feeling isn’t. Maybe you’re also entering December with high hopes – because of the holidays or for your own reasons – and don’t want it to slip past in a blur.

All of this has me thinking about how I want to move through the rest of the month. Here are a few things I’ve landed on: 

Putting in place some rhythms to stretch out the season: 

• At the beginning of the month, Matt and I made a big list of festive ideas and small house projects we’d love to do this month. Then we just pick a few each day or week. There’s no pressure to complete it all, but having ideas in one place helps us remember the things we’re excited about.
• I’m keeping a simple log of one festive thing I do each day. I’ve done this for a few years now, and it helps me feel like the season isn’t zooming by. It’s also fun to look back on at the end of the week. Right now, my days very much feel the same, but the log helps me see the festive novelty my week did have!
• After the month is over, I plan to make a little scrapbook with pictures and notes to help me remember this season with Ben.

Adding festivity in tiny ways: 

With a two-month-old, this isn’t the year of big outings or grand traditions. BUT I am appreciating how much this year is inspiring me to find joy in the simple things. Such as: 

• Enjoying a book or sipping my coffee next to the Christmas tree
• Christmas music playing while we cook, clean or play with Ben
• Starting a Christmas movie at night and watching it over a few days. This was born out of necessity with a newborn schedule, but honestly I recommend it. It removes the pressure of committing to a full movie, and even the not-so-great ones are charming in small doses.

All of these things are free, accessible, and easy to do – but actually doing them, and appreciating them while they’re happening, makes all the difference.

And lastly, because we’re talking about all things holiday today and I love hearing what others are enjoying this time of year, here are a few holiday things bringing me joy lately:

• Christmas books: I just finished Anne of Avenue A (a retelling of Persuasion set in NYC at Christmas) and loved it. Next up is I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss – one of my favorite holiday authors!
• Christmas cookies: Last week I made a few new-to-me recipes: an M&M bar, classic peanut butter blossoms, and gingerbread cookies with a maple glaze. Matt’s favorite were the M&M bars; mine was the gingerbread. But all three were easy-to-make and delicious.
• Christmas movies: Like I said, we’re watching a lot of Christmas movies. We’re saving our favorite, 8-Bit Christmas (so good if you haven’t seen it!!) for closer to the 25th. And I embarrassingly liked both Merry Little Ex-Mas and Champagne Problems on Netflix – just the type of cheesy but enjoyable movies I was hoping for.
• Christmas scents: I have the Mrs. Meyers Iowa Pine soap at all our sinks, and it gives me a tiny boost of festivity every time I wash my hands. I’m also loving this Forest Fir candle from Target – so affordable and so good.

I’d love to hear: what’s making your month feel festive or meaningful so far?

That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this! 

Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan